Monterey Park police fatally shoot armed man

MONTEREY PARK - Police investigating a Valentine's Day disturbance between a boyfriend and girlfriend shot and killed an Ontario man early Friday after he allegedly brandished a gun, authorities said.

Emmanuel Franco, 25, died at the scene of the officer-involved shooting, which took place just after midnight in the 400 block of South Atlantic Avenue, Lt. Larry Dietz of the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner said.

Monterey Park police officers responded to a report of a disturbance between a boyfriend and girlfriend at a motel, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said in a written statement.

On arrival, the officers were directed to a vehicle that was leaving the motel, officials said. Two patrol cars pulled the vehicle over at Atlantic Boulevard and Harding Avenue.

"The suspect vehicle stopped and a male passenger exited the vehicle," according to the sheriff's department statement. "After the suspect brandished a handgun, an officer-involved shooting occurred."

The man - later identified as Franco - died at the scene, officials said, and a handgun was recovered, officials said.

It was not clear how many officers fired, how many shots were fired or how many times the suspect was struck.

No officers were injured in the incident, officials added.

A phone number listed in public records as belonging to Franco was disconnected Friday.

A search of San Bernardino and Los Angeles County booking records turned up numerous prior convictions for Franco, all of them traffic cases primarily involving driving on a suspended license.

Franco's license was suspended following an August, 2006 drunken driving conviction, according to court documents.

A domestic violence case against Franco was dismissed in November of last year, and he had no other conviction for violent crimes in Los Angeles or San Bernardino counties.

Monterey Park police officials deferred all comments to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau, which is assisting in the investigation. Handling detectives could not be reached for comment.

Officials shut down the intersection of Atlantic Boulevard and Harding Avenue as they investigated the scene until about 9:30 a.m.